Nettle Tea

The best Nettle Tea (also called Stinging Nettle Tea) is a Herbal Tea bound to surprise and impress. Despite its bad reputation as a plant, the opposite couldn’t be truer when made into an infusion. Expect full-bodied herbaceous notes with minty undertones.

Expect, too, the finest quality and consistency here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is packed by hand and fresh to order.

About the Stinging Nettle Tea Plant

It’ll probably come as little surprise to know that our Stinging Nettle Leaf Tea comes from the plant of the same name. This flowering perennial (Urtica dioica) belongs to the Urticaceae family. It consists of a hairy, single stalk with deeply serrated leaves of dark green on top and pale green on the underside.

Most famously, these leaves hurt when brushed against due to their notorious sting. But what causes it? 

Nettles have hollow hairs stiffened by silica with a swollen base that contains three chemicals: Histamine, acetylcholine and serotonin. The tip of the chemical-filled hairs is extraordinarily brittle and, therefore, is easily broken off to expose a sharp point that penetrates the skin.

However, the simple act of boiling the leaves - which we’ve already done for you - removes any risk of it harming you. 

What Does Nettle Tea Taste Like? 

Archaeological evidence indicates that people have used nettles for at least 4,000 years. In Norse mythology, throwing them into a fire prevented your home from getting destroyed in a thunderstorm.

In North America, meanwhile, indigenous communities consumed them for improved digestion. Still, the question is, does Nettle Tea taste good? The answer is that you’re in for a truly herbaceous treat. 

How Many Cups a Day Can you Drink? 

Drinking Nettle Tea every day is an alluring prospect once you’ve tried it for yourself. It might, though, depend on the individual as to whether it is a good idea.

Those who’re pregnant should consider avoiding it until the third trimester because it could stimulate the uterus and cause contractions. Even those hoping to utilise Nettle Tea benefits needn’t have more than two cups daily to discover its potential. 

Does Nettle Tea Have Caffeine? 

There’s one crucial question we haven’t yet addressed: Is Nettle Tea caffeine free? Caffeine is a stimulating constituent that, in reality, needs little introduction.

While it exists in the likes of Black Tea and Roast Coffee, almost all Herbal Tea varieties are devoid of the chemical compound. The time has now come to show you the trick to making Nettle Tea at its most delicious. 

How to Make Nettle Tea

1. Put Nettle Loose Tea into a Filter or Infuser.
   
   
2. Place the accessory in your cup.
   
   
3. Pour freshly boiled water at 100°C over it.
   
   
4. Allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes. 

How to Serve: Consider honey, lemon or Peppermint Tea. Alternatively, serve without additions. 

Tasting Notes: Imparts a sublime herbaceous taste with minty hints. 

What is Nettle Tea Good For? 

Choosing our Nettle Tea infusion is not only a delight to your taste buds but also to your health and wellbeing. The primary reason, according to the latest scientific research, is its abundance of vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants.

Among them are Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and selenium. Combined, they can achieve the following benefits: 

• Reduced Hair Loss.
• Hay Fever Relief. 
• Improved Skin Health.
• Promoted Weight Loss.
• Decreased Blood Pressure.

Please read our Nettle Tea Benefits article for further facts and figures.